Couples who have been having problems trying to conceive are faced with more problems than just infertility. The costs of treatment can be formidable. For example, one cycle of IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000. When you consider that most couples require up to three cycles of IVF to conceive a child, the costs can quickly ad up.
Fortunately, not all procedures have such high costs associated with them. While fertility drugs can be expensive, they are a fraction of the cost of other procedures. Still, the cost of some drugs, like Clomid, can be as high as $4000.
While many infertility treatments are covered by insurance, the patient is required to pay up front and seek reimbursement after the fact. With possible costs of over $30,000, it can be very difficult to cover the costs until reimbursement comes. To make matters worse, some procedures aren’t covered by insurance at all! Surrogate parenting, for example, can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $60,000, and none of it is eligible for coverage.
Before proceeding with treatments, couples are advised to carefully go over their insurance coverage to ensure that they meet all of the requirements set out in their insurance policy.
There are also other, non-monetary costs associated with treatment as well. Couples will need to take time away from work in order to receive the treatments. The procedures can also be very physically and emotionally draining, especially when success is not guaranteed.
Despite the astronomical costs involved, there are several resources that couples can turn to in order to help finance treatments. Some of these are:
• Friends and family: Often friends and family are willing to help cover some of the costs.
• Flexible spending accounts: An employee benefit offered to help pay costs of medical procedures that are not covered by insurance.
• 401(k) plan: In some cases, you may be able to withdraw funds from your 401(k) plan. Be aware that you will need to repay these funds at a later date. Check with your employer for more details.
• Loan: A home equity loan or line of credit may be a viable source of funding.
• Shared Risk Programs: Some clinics offer a shared risk program, where the couple pays for treatment up front and is refunded if the treatment is not successful. Be aware that not everyone will qualify, and the definition of “success” may not mean taking home a baby.
While the costs of infertility treatment can be very high, with careful planning and research, couples can often find the resources necessary to pay for treatments.
